The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is funding creation of a heat map visualization tool that will show where cybersecurity jobs are open across the country. The first rendition should be out late next year.

Some 230,000 cybersecurity jobs are open across the U.S., according to the Department of Commerce, and the number of openings has roughly doubled over the past 4 or 5 years.

Job market analytics and research firm Burning Glass Technologies will partner with IT professional trade association CompTIA to develop the heat map tool, backed by a three-year grant. CompTIA has been awarded $249,000 in first-year funding.

The map will go beyond spitting out pretty color-coded images. It will slice and dice job postings by job titles, skills and more, and help workers figure out which degrees or certifications they really need to be in the running for jobs.

According to Burning Glass, cybersecurity jobs on average command a $6,500 annual salary premium over other IT jobs and take 8% longer to fill. Those positions that call for financial skills or security clearance are even tougher to fill.

Bob Brown is a news editor for Network World, blogs about network research, and works most closely with our staff's wireless/mobile reporters. Email me at bbrown@nww.com with story tips or comments on this post. No need to follow up on PR pitches via email or phone (I read my emails and will be in touch if interested, thanks)